Hydropolis in Wrocław
Medal available in the vending machine in the ticket office building!
Hydropolis, a knowledge center about water, opened in December 2015. It is the only facility of its kind in Poland and one of few worldwide. Hydropolis is an ultra-modern knowledge center full of technological innovations and fascinating exhibitions. Everyone who enjoys combining pleasure with learning will find something for themselves. This new attraction in Wrocław is located in a historic building at Na Grobli Street – a former clean water reservoir built in 1893 that became a reservoir of pure water knowledge in 2015. Such a place was missing not only in Wrocław but in the entire country. Water is essential for our planet and incomparably more important than all the gold, diamonds, and money in the world, which is why Wrocław aims to build knowledge about it.
Hydropolis is designed for all age groups, but the creators particularly wanted to engage children and youth. Therefore, the center uses modern multimedia forms. The exhibition area covers over 4,000 square meters.
The adventure at Hydropolis begins right at the entrance, where visitors walk through a wall of water (don’t worry – sensors interrupt the stream so visitors enter dry). Inside, the exhibition is divided into eight thematic zones.
In the “Planet Water” room, we learn theories about water’s origins and presence in the universe. Water was at the beginning of all life, not just on Earth. In the farthest reaches of space explored so far, scientists find traces of water. Its presence is one reason to suspect we’re not alone in the universe, as water gives life. Other rooms present closer and equally fascinating topics. Visitors can sit in a replica of the Trieste bathyscaphe that reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 1960.
Nearby are displays of marine creatures, from multi-meter sharks to microorganisms. The sounds of water are almost constant – flowing streams, storms, rain, waves on a paradise beach. Each room features multimedia displays with fascinating details about underwater discoveries, water’s nature, and human uses of water. The theme of water in religions and art isn’t forgotten either.
Biology enthusiasts will learn daily water requirements for adults versus infants. A separate section covers hydrotechnical devices and modern water management systems. An interactive table with maps of Wrocław during the millennium flood and the city’s water supply system attracts visitors of all ages.
Hydropolis contains hundreds of topics and information threads. And this isn’t the end – the exhibition will continue developing with new themes and exhibits.
